Vegas with kids ages 8 & 10- best hotel?

Old May 9th, 1998, 01:40 PM
  #1  
linda curliss
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Vegas with kids ages 8 & 10- best hotel?

We are thinking of going to Vegas next Xmas. We are looking for any feedback from anyone who has been to Vegas with kids and can make any recommmendations. Which is the most kid-friendly hotel? Are there any kids programs which will give parents a chance to go to the casino? Has anyone been at Xmas?
 
Old May 10th, 1998, 05:52 AM
  #2  
Dan
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CircusCircus would probably meet your needs - there are a lot of kid-friendly activities and it's pretty centrally located on the Strip.
 
Old May 10th, 1998, 04:35 PM
  #3  
cramer
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I would suggest the MGM Grand or Exclaiber. They are just across the street from each other. I hear Excaliber is less expensive yet nice. Also, the NY NY is on the same block. Their is a great game place also next door. My friends said Circus, Circus is showing some wear and tear. The Excaliber has a great variety of free shows during the day for little kids. Be sure and take them to the Lance Burton Magic show at the Monte Carlo. It is fantastic for $35. He always has young kids come up on the stage. The Monte Carlo is next to NY NY. Be sure and take them to free pirate show at Treasure Island. It's great, but does not offer the shows for younger kids. In addition, be sure and take them to Caesars for the free statue shows. Just ask anyone there and they will guide you to the right place. Well, the MGM, EXcaliber, NYNY block offers a lot for little guys. We also took our boys to the rousing dinner show at Excaliber. Horses, knights, no silverware, made for an interesting, roudy show. Quite impressive when your a little guy. Good luck!
 
Old May 11th, 1998, 07:38 AM
  #4  
Sylvia
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Don't go at Christmas! Of course the decorations are beautiful BUT- the Japanese tourists are there in throngs, busloads, e gods they are everywhere like hornets, wasps! I felt like I was transported to another country- this couldn't be Vegas, USA? or could it??? They were in the Casinos gambling all night, in the buffets eating with their little nips and walking everywhere, pushing me, not caring! Yuck! If I go again I will for sure check and see if this tidal wave is year round or a Christmas thing. And the thing is we feel our Christmas cheer, red and green, its Christmas and there they are like the Mafia, all in black, Black hair, black clothes, black shoes! How depressing! Yo-ching- he yung hoo!
 
Old May 12th, 1998, 01:04 PM
  #5  
kam
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Last poster certainly feels strongly about Japanese tourists---I hope he never visits San Francisco. Maybe he'll win a free trip to Tokyo! Anyway, not to get in to it with him, I don't know Las Vegas well, but think I would take my 8 and 10 year old to New York, New York. Sorry for you parents, but I think they would love it. I'm sure any of the big hotels has stuff for kids to do and depending on where you are coming from, its a great time to get out of the snow and into the desert. I was last there in June and it was insufferably hot and over airconditioned inside. I had a horrible headache from the change in temperature all the time. Kids might also like to see Hoover Dam. The drive north from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City is gorgeous but not to be done in winter, I think. I think if Las Vegas can cope with all the crazy American tourists, what's a few Japanese people too? Have fun.
 
Old May 15th, 1998, 04:50 PM
  #6  
Jim Columbo
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Las Vegas is lots of fun with and for kids. Skip Circus Circus. The action is further out on the strip. Excalibur jousting dinner is great fun, NYNY has a wonderfun Coney Island theme game area, MGM has a theme park with rides behind it, the Luxor has a really high tech game area, and a fab pool. I don't know about Christmas a little too many lights and craziness for me!! Our kids loved the ride at the top of the Staratosphere too!
 
Old May 16th, 1998, 09:18 AM
  #7  
Priscilla
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Sylvia: I hope the Japanese don't go there too because then they don't have to spend money on flights, gamble there, use the hotel there, eat the buffet there and least but not last: SPEND MONEY which i believe is the essence to why the economy MOVE on.
 
Old May 16th, 1998, 07:34 PM
  #8  
suzanne
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As a traveling parent with two children and a full time travel agent I hope will not be offended but I would never take children to Vegas. No matter how much the hotels add to their hype that they have activities for children-and they do-Vegas is an adult destination. Your children will see the worst of all possible vices we as adults have-gambling, drinking, pimps, nudie papers being handed out on the streets. In todays society kids have a rough time staying on the right path no matter what you do as parents. Please take them to a great Xmas destination like Willimsburg Va. or a warm beach resort.
 
Old May 25th, 1998, 01:56 AM
  #9  
reb
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MGM Grand is grand for kids. There is a daycare center with all kinds of fun activities. The staff all over the hotel are great. There is a food court with the foods kids love, right off the lobby/room elevator area. Have fun!! I don't gamble and avoided the casinos and found 4 days wasn't enough time to do all we wanted. Don't miss Red Rock Park and Bonnie Springs Ranch and Petting Zoo (unlike any zoo you've ever seen)--they are about 30 minutes outside Las Vegas center.
 
Old May 25th, 1998, 10:03 AM
  #10  
Jane
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We took our children, age 14 and 16 at the time, to Vegas in April of 97. We had a great time. Plenty of activities for children. We had a rental car and went to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. MGM would be the best bet for children the age of yours. We stayed at Circus Circus and were disappointed. That was our only disappointment however.
 
Old Jun 8th, 1998, 07:26 AM
  #11  
R&J in IL
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Depending on the ages of your children, it can be quite expensive as the arcades are not FREE!! They can cost as much as the gambling can. Also, if you put them in a "childrens center" (if the hotel has one) that runs into money also if you are late, etc. I would go with the other poster and take the kids somewhere else where it would "feel" like Christmas.
 
Old Jun 11th, 1998, 05:43 AM
  #12  
Lila
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Hi! First of all, I think it's great your family wants to go on vacation together at Christmas, second I thought Vegas was great at Christmas. We spent Dec 21st - 26th, 1997 there. My husband's first time, my fourth and best time. The casinos were not packed at all neither were the buffets or any of the attractions, it was cold though about 40 degrees and high wind advisories so the roller coaster at Stratosphere was closed on Christmas Day but we had Mickey D's and alot of fun. Christmas night everything started to fill up fast and I was glad to leave the morning of the 26th, the town was getting packed!!! Didn't have to wait in line at Hard Rock Cafe - had great nachos, beers and got cool T-shirts. MGM is sooo huge - we got lost in it but they have live animal/petting exhibit for kids, take them to Caesars to see all the "live" statues and of course to the Mirage for the dolphins and white tiger exhibits. I thought Treasure Island would be fun for kids and the pirate show at night is alot of fun. Lastly, let me say that no matter how much people say "Yeah, take your kids to Vegas - they'll have fun" it's really not the best place for children. Most of them seemed bored. Except when they were in "Gameworks" which is a Steven Speilberg video arcade, next to the Coca Cola building (you can actually watch coca cola being made). Both these places are right on the strip and we (ages 27 and 29) spent about $50 in the video arcade and had a great time, if you spend $20 you get $25 worth of video credits. By the way, in some places besides the casinos where children are not allowed (security guards will tell you or your children to leave the casino area, they can stand around for a couple minutes but that's it!), kids are not welcome at all, the new casino/hotel Bellagio, scheduled to open this fall does not allow anyone under the age of 21, even as a guest.
 
Old Jun 14th, 1998, 05:44 AM
  #13  
BobbyB
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Las Vegas is not a place to take children. It is an adult playground. Do yourself and your children a favor and go somehwere else. I don't care how much the hotels try to cater to the families. Las Vegas is not the place for children to be. It's primary business is ADULT entertainment. My wife and I love Las Vegas, and Nevada in general. Yes, we take our kids but they are both over 21. When they were younger, we did not visit Las Vegas. Sometimes parents have to make sacrifieces for their children's sake. I would much rather have the Japanese tourists than a bunch of kids in Las Vegas.
 
Old Jun 17th, 1998, 12:30 PM
  #14  
jeanne
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We went to Las Vegas last year, with our 5 year
old son, and he had a great time. My husband was
at a convention, so my son and I had fun. There
is plenty for children to do. All of the above are
great suggestions. Don't forget to see the White
Tigers at the Mirage, they have a small beautiful zoo. We enjoyed Circus Circus amusement park, Treasure Island Pirate fight, the erupting volcano
in front of the Mirage, the pool, Chocolate factory,
Ocean Spray factory, the Clown factory. We also
went to the Grand Canyon (there is a small town
south of the Canyon, where you take a train to the
Canyon), they have a cowboy show outside, and wagon
rides. We spent a week in Vegas, and my son NEVER
saw nudie papers, pimps, or prostitutes. He didn't
really pay much attention to the slot machines either (of course we don't gamble, and we told him
how silly it is and how much money people waste)
We had a great time, and we always cater to what my
son likes to do.
 
Old Jun 17th, 1998, 06:17 PM
  #15  
judy
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I've been watching for someone to mention Mount Charleston (if I remember the name correctly). One year (three or four years ago) around Christmas we rented a car for a day in Vegas and made the 30 or 40 minute drive there - it was fantastic! Snow everywhere! An alpine chalet restaurant that served great food and best of all - a sleigh ride in the snow! It was unforgettable. We also had our daughter and her two friends with us - of course, they were 21, so I guess they don't count as children! However, if you're from a southern state like we are and don't often see lots of snow, you will enjoy it thoroughly... Judy
 
Old Jun 22nd, 2000, 08:10 PM
  #16  
Lupe
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Please don't listen to those people who say Vegas is not a place to take kids. I have been going there since I was 10 years old (I am now 30) and have NEVER seen a pimp or had a nudie paper thrown at me. Of course this exists there, as I'm sure it does in the bad/seedy parts of ANY town, but you won't be there. In the past 20 years, neither have I and I've gone at least 3 times every year ( more frequently now that I'm older). So that this doesn't seem outrageous, let me clarify that we only live about a 4-hour drive away so it's a great weekend getaway.

To continue: Although renovated, don't stay at the Circus Circus, it's now towards the "end" of the strip, far from all the newer hotels (definately visit during the day). Stay at the MGM, although pricey, the amusement park can actually turn out to be an inexpensive way to keep the kids entertained for the day. Believe me, there's plenty to do, but I would probably not stay more than 3-4 nights simply because everything gets really expensive. As they mentioned earlier, the arcades are not free and, nowadays, you cannot find video games for less than $1. And, definately take them to some magic shows and/or Cirque de soleil at the Bellagio.

The only difficult thing about going to Vegas in the winter is that it gets too cold for swimming. And, frankly the themed and lavish pool areas are really fun. One suggestion is to rent a car (you should anyways as nothing is really that close in Vegas and can get very tiring) with unlimited miles. You have a few options for mountainous areas with plenty of snow. There is Big Bear at about a 3-hour drive, you can rent a little cabin cheap and there is a great "snow park" for the kids complete with inner tubes, slides, etc. This little town has an arcade, plus plenty of antique shops for mom & dad as well as great restaurants.

Another option is to drive towards Flastaff/Grand Canyon area. More of a drive at @ 5 hours away, but gorgeous. Again, finding a quaint hotel or cabin here would be easy.

Feel free to email me with any questions.
 

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